Fruit or vegetable drier



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet I,

H'. N. SGHULTZ. FRUIT 0R VBGBTABLB DRIER.

No. 505,610. Patentedsept. 26,1893.

(No Medel.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. H. N. SGHULTZ. FRUIT 0R VEGBTABLE DRIEB..

Patented Sept. 26, 1893.

` [vu/61122107". me f1 UNITED NSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

` I-IORATIO N .'SOHULTZ, OF UNION BRIDGE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO ALBERT ONES, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

FRUIT OR VEGETABLE DRIER.

SPECIFICALXON forming part of Letters Patent No. 505,610, dated September 261, 1893. Application filed August 29, 1892. Serial No. 444.382. (No model.)

terials to be dried, and to escape with thel moisture collected in its passage, at the top of the apparatus.

In the further description of the apparatus which follows reference is made to the aecompanying drawings forming a part hereof and in which* Figure l isa front elevation of the apparatus, and Fig. 2 a side View of a portion of the same. Fig. 3 is a top View of Figi, and Fig. t an enlarged detail.

Referring to the drawings, A is the base of the apparatus and it consists of a rectangular pyramidal frame, preferably made of cast iron open at the top and bottom. The upper end of the frame has an inner horizontal flange,- ot, extending entirely around the same, and a vertical flange b on three sides, the front being devoid ofV any extension beyond the top of the ange ot. To the inner face of the flange h is riveted a casing B, of sheet iron, open at the top and front, and provided with a quadrangular stiliening band C at the top.

Within the casing B is a series of trays D With perforated metal or wire gauze bottoms c. The said trays are stacked or made to rest one upon another, and the whole stack is su pported normally by the iiange a.

The band C has on its two sides downwardly projecting lugs d which have curved slots e therein leading to the upper edge. Corresponding slots are cut in the sheet iron casing B.

E E are lbars with their ends res ting loosely in holes f in the easing, and the band C, and from these bars extend cranks g with pins h resting in the slots e. To these crank pins h are connected rods F the lower ends of which have barbsj, the barbs passing through slots 7a in the vertical flange b and the casing B. At each side of the trays are two notches m with inclined faces n. See particularly Fig. 4.

To the center of each bar E is an upwardly extending arm G, and the forward arm has an extension which forms a handle 0, and these arms are connected bya pivoted rod H. The length of the rods F is such that when the bars with their cranks are placed in the position shown particularly in Fig. 2, the barbs j are below the notches m in the lowest or bottom tray.

Springs I serve to yieldingly keep the barbs j in contact with the inclined faces n in the notches min the trays and make them engage with the bottom of the next to the lowest tray as the rods E are raised by hand through the medium of the handles o. See Fig. 4.

The operation of theinvention is as follows: The apparatus being placed on a stove or range, the handle ois moved into the position shown in Fig. 2 and the trays after being filled with the material to be dried are placed in the casing. When it is supposed that the materials in the lowest tray are sufficiently dried, the handle o is drawn back which has the ultimate effect of lifting all the trays except the lowest one, which lowest one is then drawn out and its contents examined. If`the materials are not sufficiently dry, the tray is returned to its position in the casing below the other trays which are then lowered upon it and the drying operation is continued for a time. Il. however the said materials prove to be dry, the handle ois returned to its original position which lowers the stack of trays and brings the then lowest one in contact with the flange o, which supports the Whole stack. The withdrawn tray is then emptied of its contents and after being replenished with undried material, is placed on the top of the stack, and the drying continued.

From the foregoing description, it will be 9 5 seen that the drying operation is a continuous one, the materials being always supplied to the top tray and removed from the bottom one; and that the lowest tray can be at any time withdrawn from the casing for the in- IOO spection ot' its contents Without disturbing the others or interfering with the drying operation.

I claim as my invention-` 1. In a drier, the combination with a casing, the sides of which are provided with curved slots, of a series of trays which are notched in their sides and placed one above another, two shafts mounted in said casing above said trays, said shafts being provided with cranks which extend into said curved slots, rods connected with said cranks and provided at their lower ends with barbs, adapted to pass under the tray next above the lowest tray, springs adapted to press said rods inward, and devices, substantially as described, for turning said shafts, whereby said rods may be drawn upward, substantially as and for the purposes described. v

2. The combination with a casing, the sides of which are provided with curved slots e, in their upper parts, and slots 7c in their lower parts, of a series of trays, placed one above another and provided with notches m, bars E, loosely mounted in said casing, above said trays, and cranks extending from said bars and entering,r slots e, arms G, extending from bars E, a rod by which said arms are pivotally connected, and barbed rods F,connected with said cranks, the barbs of rods F being in position to enter notches m in one tray and to connect with the next tray above, substantially as set forth and described.

HORATIO N. SCHULTZ. 

